Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
This section takes you through every important aspect of how to run a successful business. It offers expert guides and advice articles on the key elements of business management such as employing staff, finding customers, marketing and sales, pricing, people management, office and home working, business technology and everything else an entrepreneur must tackle in order to succeed.
In a recent survey conducted amongst members of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), 31.8 per cent reported experiencing skill shortages amongst their current staff, in managerial, advanced IT, technical and sales and marketing roles. So what's to be done? SmallBusiness.co.uk teamed up with the FSB to give you this guide to apprenticeships.
Employing & managing staff
Buying and selling a company
There's lots of advice out there about setting up a small business. Does anyone know of a good site/advice source on selling a company?
Employing & managing staff
The advertising of vacancies is, to a degree, a balancing act.
Employing & managing staff
If things start to get on top of you while running a successful small business, it may become necessary to enlist further help. Yet employing additional, permanent staff brings with it extra headaches. SmallBusiness.co.uk spoke to Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founder and chief executive of online skills marketplace Peopleperhour.com about the benefits of using a virtual workforce.
Business management
Increasing the turnover of your business is not always enough to improve your profit margins. Cost control and reduction of overheads play an important part in managing the margins of small businesses.
Finding and selling to customers
Sales form the backbone of any business, whether you provide a service or sell products in a retail outlet, you can't survive without customers. Enticing those customers in can be a challenge.
Finding and selling to customers
Just thinking about giving a presentation can make you feel nervous but for a small business owner, presentations are an excellent marketing tool that tell potential customers what you do and why they should use your business. Here are some tips from SmallBusiness.co.uk and procedure and training specialist Sarah Dobson to help you prepare.
Marketing
When you're first creating advertising for your small business, it's very tempting to try to go for the flashy, clever adverts. But adverts with impact are those that actually generate customers and, with a limited budget, you may end up biting off more than you can chew. Have a look at or top tips to help you along.
Finding and selling to customers
Just thinking about giving a presentation can make you feel nervous but for a small business owner, presentations are an excellent marketing tool that tell potential customers what you do and why they should use your business. Here are some tips from SmallBusiness.co.uk and procedure and training specialist Sarah Dobson to help you prepare.
Marketing
When you're first creating advertising for your small business, it's very tempting to try to go for the flashy, clever adverts. But adverts with impact are those that actually generate customers and, with a limited budget, you may end up biting off more than you can chew. Have a look at or top tips to help you along.
Business management
Ian Merricks began his career as a record promoter in 1996, specialising in youth media. In 2007, he raised private equity for the MBO of media and marketing company Itchy Group, for whom he has overseen five acquisitions and several million pounds of private investment. SmallBusiness.co.uk sat down for a cup of tea with him to find out the secret to his success.
Business Technology
According to data recovery firm Ontrack, 89 per cent of companies fail to allocate budget for data recovery and 78 per cent have experienced data loss in the past 12 months. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers the following tips on handling data.
Buying and selling a company
My business has been for sale with incompetent agents. I must sell as soon as I can due to severe health needs. The business is solvent and profitable but needs total commitment. I am a sole trader with no family and cannot afford to walk away. Are there other options open to me?
Business management
Derek Browne left a lucrative career in the City to start his own business, Entrepreneurs in Action, aimed at teaching students the value of entrepreneurship. He went on to win Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2006 and to act as coach and business mentor for Jaime Oliver’s four graduates on the Channel 4 ‘Jamie's Chef’ show.
Partner content
In case you were in any doubt, here are five key benefits of switching your business bank account – and how to make the switch.
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Partner content
Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.
Employing & managing staff
In Aviva’s latest SME research*, 57 per cent of employers surveyed agreed that nowadays employees expect benefits to protect against loss of income or earnings. What do you offer your people?